UT President Powers ready to get back to work

Updated 5:15 pm, Thursday, December 12, 2013

Photo: Ralph Barrera, Associated Press

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University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers addresses the media briefly at the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013, after the regents recessed to move into Executive Session. The board was scheduled to discuss an unspecified “recommendation” about the employment of Powers. Powers is popular on the UT campus he’s led since 2006, but his vision for higher education has clashed with some regents and Gov. Rick Perry. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ralph Barrera) less

University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers addresses the media briefly at the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013, after the regents recessed to move into Executive ... more

Photo: Ralph Barrera, Associated Press

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University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers addresses the media briefly at the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013, after the regents recessed to move into Executive Session. The board was scheduled to discuss an unspecified “recommendation” about the employment of Powers. Powers is popular on the UT campus he’s led since 2006, but his vision for higher education has clashed with some regents and Gov. Rick Perry. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ralph Barrera) less

University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers addresses the media briefly at the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013, after the regents recessed to move into Executive ... more

Photo: Ralph Barrera, Associated Press

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University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, right, elbows Regent Alex Cranberg, left, in a greeting as he makes his rounds before the start of the UT System Board of Regents Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013. The board was scheduled to discuss an unspecified “recommendation” about the employment of Powers. Powers is popular on the UT campus he’s led since 2006, but his vision for higher education has clashed with some regents and Gov. Rick Perry.(AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ralph Barrera) less

University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, right, elbows Regent Alex Cranberg, left, in a greeting as he makes his rounds before the start of the UT System Board of Regents Thursday morning, Dec. 12, ... more

Photo: Ralph Barrera, Associated Press

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University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, right, talks with Regents R. Steven Hicks, left, and Student Regent Nash M. Horne, center, before the start of the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013.The board was scheduled to discuss an unspecified “recommendation” about the employment of Powers. Powers is popular on the UT campus he’s led since 2006, but his vision for higher education has clashed with some regents and Gov. Rick Perry. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ralph Barrera) less

University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, right, talks with Regents R. Steven Hicks, left, and Student Regent Nash M. Horne, center, before the start of the UT System Board of Regents meeting ... more

Photo: Ralph Barrera, Associated Press

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University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, left, embraces Regent Robert L. Stillwell at the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013.The board was scheduled to discuss an unspecified “recommendation” about the employment of Powers. Powers is popular on the UT campus he’s led since 2006, but his vision for higher education has clashed with some regents and Gov. Rick Perry. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ralph Barrera) less

University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, left, embraces Regent Robert L. Stillwell at the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013.The board was scheduled to discuss an ... more

Photo: Ralph Barrera, Associated Press

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Chancellor Dr. Francisco Cigarroa listens at the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013. The board was scheduled to discuss an unspecified “recommendation” about the employment of University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers. Powers is popular on the UT campus he’s led since 2006, but his vision for higher education has clashed with some regents and Gov. Rick Perry. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ralph Barrera) less

Chancellor Dr. Francisco Cigarroa listens at the UT System Board of Regents meeting Thursday morning, Dec. 12, 2013. The board was scheduled to discuss an unspecified “recommendation” about the employment ... more

Photo: Ralph Barrera, Associated Press

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UT President Bill Powers' employment is up for discussion during the private session by regents.

UT President Bill Powers' employment is up for discussion during the private session by regents.

Photo: Austin American-Statesman

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Opponents have tried, without success, to link UT President Bill Powers to a loan scandal.

Opponents have tried, without success, to link UT President Bill Powers to a loan scandal.

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, left, with Texas president Bill Powers, right, formally announces his retirement during a news conference, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Dodds, who has been with Texas for 32 years, will step down in August 2014. less

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, left, with Texas president Bill Powers, right, formally announces his retirement during a news conference, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Dodds, who has been ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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University President Bill Powers, right, answers a question after Steve Patterson, left, is introduced as the new Athletic Director at the University of Texas during a news conference in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013. Patterson graduated from Texas and earned his law degree there. He succeeds DeLoss Dodds, who is retiring after 32 years. less

University President Bill Powers, right, answers a question after Steve Patterson, left, is introduced as the new Athletic Director at the University of Texas during a news conference in Austin, Texas, ... more

Photo: Deborah Cannon, Associated Press

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Texas coach Mack Brown, right, walks off the field with university president Bill Powers, left, after Texas' 35-13 win over Kansas in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Austin, Texas.

Texas coach Mack Brown, right, walks off the field with university president Bill Powers, left, after Texas' 35-13 win over Kansas in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Austin, Texas.

Powers said he was gratified by what he described as a show of support from Chancellor Cigarroa, the chairman and the board of regents.

“Tomorrow morning, I'm going to look foreward to going to work and doing the work of the university,” Powers said.

Read the full story on ExpressNews.com.

Updated 4:35 p.m.

The board adjourned andtook no action on Powers after hearing from the chancellor and regents chairman.

Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa — while citing a strained relationship that he and some regents have with Poweres — said there has been progress

"I am hopeful that the strained relationships can be improved. It is my recommendation as chancellor thatBill Powers should continue his appointment as president of the University of Texas at Austin," he said.

More Information

Chairman Paul Foster, also acknowledging problems and hope for improvement, adjourned the meeting.

Updated: 4:30 p.m.

The UT Board of Regents has reconvened and is moving through its agenda. It has not yet reached the Powers item. Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa is speaking to board about President Powers' employment. Cigarroa says conversations with Powers have 'been often difficult" and their relationship is “strained.”

Updated 4:15 p.m

The UT Board of Regents have ended nearly four hours of executive session and will reconvene in open session soon. A decision on President Bill Powers' employment could be announced.

Updated 3:30 p.m.

As regents entered their fourth hour of a closed-door meeting on issues including his future on the ninth floor of Ashbel Smith Hall in downtown Austin, President Powers chatted with supporters on the second floor of the building.

A clutch of media also is in a holding pattern on the second floor, waiting for the regents' decision.

Powers didn't want to comment on the situation but called the support he has received “very gratifying.” Those milling about, as identified by a woman familiar with the group, included some faculty, students and prominent alumni. Among them was former U.S. Ambassador Pam Willeford, a Powers ally. Some legislative staffers are also there.

Updated 2:50 p.m.

The media waiting for regents to end their closed-door session on Powers' employment have just been moved to the second floor of the building. This is to make it easier to get reporters to the ninth floor when the session ends. No indication on when that might be.

Updated 2:20 p.m.

As the regents' closed-door meeting neared the three-hour mark, some close to the process privately expressed concern about the action the board may take. Some have been hoping for a vote of confidence for Powers.

State Rep. Carol Alvarado by telephone emphasized that lawmakers investigating Regent Wallace Hall Jr. have made their wishes known to regents who are considering Powers' employment.

Alvarado, a Houston Democrat who is co-chair of the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations, said the committee has twice sent the regents letters asking them 'to not make any employment decisions” with regard to potential witnesses in the Hall investigation. Powers is scheduled to testify next week in the probe.

“We hope they would respect our wishes. I think to do otherwise is disingenuous,” Alvarado said

Updated: 1:45 p.m.

Regents remain behind closed doors, discussing Powers' employment with the UT System's flagship campus. The board has been in executive session for more than two hours.

Updated: 11:45 a.m.

As the board of regents went into executive session to discuss issues including his employment, Powers stopped to give this brief statement about embattled football coach Mack Brown, who praised him in San Antonio:

“I saw the comments that Coach Mack Brown made this morning about me and about the process and I am very grateful and appreciative of the kind things he had to say,” Powers said.

“Mack Brown is one of the great football coaches of all time, not just here at the University of Texas but ... in the United States. He's done tremendous things for the University of Texas and I feel about him the same way that he feels about me.

“As he said, we have not met. We will be meeting over the next short period of time. And I will leave it at that. I think it is inappropriate for me to be commenting further at this time.”

Updated: 11:20 a.m.

The board has recessed into executive session. The board is expected to discuss a recommendation from Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa about President Bill Powers' employment. It's unclear what Cigarroa's recommendation offers.

Powers, who has tangled with some regents on issues including tuition, is scheduled to give a presentation to the board on an unrelated matter during the public portion of the meeting.

After disposing of that and other public business, the regents will meet behind closed doors on issues including “discussion and appropriate action” on a recommendation by Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa and the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, Pedro Reyes, on Powers' employment.

The UT system spokeswoman didn't have information to provide about the substance of the recommendation.

It's unclear what action the board may take.

Faculty, alumni and some prominent lawmakers have spoken in support of Powers.

Powers has appeared to have just enough supporters on the nine-member board to keep his job, one person close to the matter said.

Powers entered the boardroom before the meeting Thursday but said he had no comment.

Some even expressed hope that the regents would give Powers a vote of confidence.

The action comes a week before the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations is scheduled to hear from Powers as it continues its investigation of Regent Wallace Hall Jr. of Dallas.

The legislative committee is looking at actions by Hall including his huge record requests of the university and his handling of some of the information.

Critics contend Hall's actions are part of a “witch hunt” aimed at ousting Powers. Hall's lawyers have said he wants to fix problems at the university.

Regents are appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. Some see the difficulties faced by Powers as stemming from him calling for more funding and failing to fall in line with initiatives pushed by a Perry ally that critics say would undermine research and educational quality.

“The governor believes it is in the best interests of the students at the University of Texas to have this issue resolved quickly, and it is up to the regents to make a decision,” Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said Wednesday.

pfikac@express-news.net

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